Expedition 33 Sweeps at the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards
The forty-third yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted on Thursday, and with a remarkable performance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the biggest winner. This standout role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive earned the prestigious Game of the Year award, along with honors for Best Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Complementing the developer's success, the talented cast also received individual awards. Jennifer English received Outstanding Lead Performance for her role as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his role as Verso. Additionally, Sandfall Interactive the studio received Studio of the Year. Overall, Clair Obscur and its makers collected seven awards during the event.
Other notable winners included Ghost of Yōtei, which was awarded Top Sound Design and Best Console Game, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, winning Outstanding Independent Game and Premier PC Title. Notably, the majority of Golden Joystick Awards are chosen by the public, with only 4 awards—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame inductee, and Streamers' Favorite—judged by experts.
Below is the complete list of honorees from the 2025 Golden Joystick Awards:
- Best Storytelling – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer Game – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Best Development Studio – Sandfall Interactive
- Top Early Access Title – REPO
- Best Soundtrack – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Game Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Top Remake – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Top Gaming Gear – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Performer – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- Top PC Title – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Anticipated – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
If you missed out on the live ceremony, the awards ceremony is available to watch through streaming here.
